One Day in a Small-Town Desert, chapter 16, page 1

(start of book) (previous chapter) (previous page)

Chapter 16: Light on the Horizon



Pí‘oro Kılímo studied Fírí as she mulled over his comments regarding Zhíno and the police. The left half of her face was bathed in pale light from the floodlights outside. Her lips puckered in a tight frown that also half-closed her eyes. Apparently, her brain was working at less than optimum. Pí‘oro’s whole body felt the same way, even though his brief rest had eased his pain somewhat. What time is it, anyway?

Abruptly, Fírí tilted her head to the side. Her straight, chin-length hair swung loosely back and forth.

“Where’s the back door?” she hissed.

Pí‘oro gestured toward the kitchen. “Back through there.”

The blonde girl started to push herself to her feet, her eyes looking the way he’d pointed.

“Wait,” he whispered. “Do you know where you’re going?”

The desert outside their back door was kilometer after kilometer of wilderness. A novice could easily get lost and die within a few days. Perhaps the daily afternoon thunderstorms at this time of year would keep her hydrated, but there were plenty of other ways for her to kill herself.

Fírí finished standing. “No. I just need to get out of here.”

Vata had assured Pí‘oro that their home was the safest place for him to hide, but he didn’t really believe it. Her friendship with the judge couldn’t keep out the police forever. He wasn’t going to let those incompetent Koro-heads try arresting him again for crimes he didn’t commit. If they were still few in number outside, now was the time for him to leave.

“I’ll go with you. I know this land. I know where we can hide. If necessary, I know how to put some distance behind us.” We’ll have to take Zhíno, too. Fírí wouldn’t like it, but Pí‘oro couldn’t abandon his soul-brother. Vata, however, should be able to handle herself. The police would question her, but she had done nothing wrong--except for the sacrifices, but they didn’t know about those.

The blonde girl stood stock still, staring at him, for several seconds. “Can we take your horse?”

Pí‘oro smiled. Adventure awaited them. “We have two.”

(next page)